The trip gave us insights into how Prague deals with the challenge of preserving its historic character while embracing modern urban development and how Prague's political history, especially the Soviet era, clearly still influences its current issues with mobility and housing. Our visit allowed the study trip committee to build connections with local students, the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR)—who manage urban planning and development in Prague by coordinating projects, conducting research, and more—and garnered valuable insights for us as future urban engineers.
Prague’s mobility system: car heavy, with trends toward cycling
Our exploration of Prague’s mobility system was immersive. Alongside presentations, we took off the training wheels and had a bike tour through the city center—one of the highlights of the trip. Here, both strengths and weaknesses of the transportation system became clear. For example, the city has a heavy emphasis on cars. There were not that many cars in the smaller streets in the city center due to the low-speed limit, but major roads were incredibly busy. Someone from IPR noted that this stems from the shift to capitalism after communism: car ownership became a symbol of individual freedom and personal rights. This desire for individual freedom still influences transportation choices today, as cars are not just functional but reflect individual values.
Nonetheless, Prague's public transport—metro and trams—is reliable and frequent. The pedestrian infrastructure is also strong, with wide, spacious sidewalks, yet there is a clear lack of dedicated bike lanes. Cyclists in Prague usually ride on the road and sometimes even on tram tracks. The cobblestones used for the roads in Prague are very beautiful, but they make for a very bumpy ride! This is particularly visible in the Berlin-Prague bike route, which gets interrupted in the city center. “It’s quite hilly here compared to Amsterdam…maybe that is why biking is less popular,” joked a fellow MSc MADE student.
Housing in Prague: Parallels with Amsterdam
One day was all about housing, with IPR sharing insights focus on heritage preservation, which maintains the city’s historical charm but can hinder modernization. Many of the policies in place make it incredibly difficult to change the streetscape. A student rightly pointed out that this has ensured that Prague's historic center remains almost entirely intact and that there are few run-down buildings from the second half of the 20th century. While the IPR agreed with this statement, they also pointed out that this makes it very hard to positively impact the city by, for example, placing trees or building cycling lanes. This tension between preserving the past and future growth is a common theme in urban development in Prague. Amsterdam faces similar challenges, for example with ongoing projects to preserve its quay walls while adapting them for a sustainable future. Balancing conservation with progress is a tricky dance that both cities struggle with.
Another topic was the need for more housing, which the city faces. IPR explained that the trickle-down theory, which suggests that new housing for the wealthy will result in more available housing for the poor, does not work in Prague. Concurrently, the lack of policies to prevent wealthy foreigners, such as those from Russia, from buying high-end properties worsens the housing crisis. MSc MADE students also added that the trickle-down theory is overly simplistic, as it doesn't account for the fact that wealthier individuals often buy multiple properties. Nonetheless, the fact that the presence of wealthy foreigners can have such a significant impact on housing availability surprised us.
Following these discussions, we visited Bubny, a neighborhood set for redevelopment.
Bubny is an industrial and somewhat neglected area with major roads running through. There are some charming buildings, but many need maintenance. We learned about the district's master plan and toured the area, which included information about a new concert hall, parks, and improved transport links. Discussions at IPR and the tour in Bubny revealed several challenges, such as land ownership involving over forty stakeholders. The number of stakeholders surprised us, as most were unfamiliar with such complex urban redevelopment plans.
Urban insights from Prague: Lessons for us as future urban engineers, and Amsterdam as a modern city
One of the biggest takeaways for MSc MADE students is the need to consider urban design's social, cultural, and political aspects. Prague's history has left a mark on the city's current struggles with housing and transportation. We must assume that ideas like cycling, which work well in cities like Amsterdam, will succeed differently in other places. In Prague, cars are more than just a way to get around; they represent personal freedom and identity after years of communism. Similarly, preserving heritage goes beyond just keeping things beautiful; it's closely connected to the city's cultural and political background. As future urban designers, we must work with the local communities to create solutions. We must keep an open mind, respect local traditions and histories, and design to suit the people and places we work with.
Prague provided valuable lessons that we can apply almost directly to Amsterdam. While Amsterdam is already densely populated with cyclists, enhancing public transport frequency could reduce reliance on cars and improve sustainable mobility. Prague's experience also shows the importance of housing policies prioritizing equitable access to housing. Adaptive planning strategies are essential for preserving Prague's cultural heritage while facilitating modern urban development. As Amsterdam faces similar challenges, our exploration of Prague and insights into its urban planning have been very useful.
Are you a student interested in pushing boundaries in practice and science and motivated to work on hands-on projects? Or perhaps you're just curious about the program; then read more about MSc MADE.